Austria for UN, EU role in resolving Kashmir issue

28 November 2002The News International

ISLAMABAD: Austrian defence minister Herbert Scheibner on Thursday said the United Nations and the European Union should play active role and impress upon India to initiate talks with Pakistan for resolution of Kashmir issue.Talking to journalists prior to his departure for a day- long visit to Afghanistan, the Austrian defence minister said the resolution of Kashmir issue should be sought through political dialogue as there was no other feasible option.Supporting Pakistan''s principled stand on Kashmir issue for resumption of dialogue, Herbert Scheibner said India should respond to it in a positive manner. He expressed readiness to enhance military cooperation with Pakistan and said for the purpose he had brought along a sizeable delegation of producers of military hardware.Referring to the recent visit of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Muhammad Aziz Khan to Austria, he said, both Pakistan and Austria had achieved considerable headway in reaching mutual cooperation in the field.Scheibner appreciated the stand and role of Pakistan government for continuing the campaign against terrorism by joining hands with the international community. He assured all out help for Pakistan and said we hearty acknowledge the role of Pakistan especially after September 11 happenings. He was critical about the role for not complying with the Tokyo Conference articles to help rebuild Afghanistan and expressed hope that international community would reconfirm commitment to help rebuilding Afghanistan in the upcoming Bonn Conference. Answering a question, he said, Austria would also help Pakistan in its efforts to effectively check the menaces like human smuggling and drug trafficking besides the international terrorism. Later, the Austrian defence minister left for Afghanistan.